Finland, India vow to boost digital ties, bilateral trade

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on Tuesday held wide-ranging discussions on strengthening bilateral cooperation in trade, digitalisation, emerging technologies and sustainability.

The Premiers met in Oslo on the sidelines of the 3rd Nordic-India Summit, said Finnish and Indian governments in separate statements.

According to a statement issued by the Indian government, both leaders stressed the need to deepen collaboration among industries, research institutions and academia on the backdrop of the elevation of India-Finland ties to a Strategic Partnership in digitalisation and Sustainability in March, reported news agency ANI.

The two sides also reviewed ongoing cooperation in sectors including trade and investment, digitalisation, artificial intelligence, 5G/6G, quantum technologies, space, renewable energy, circular economy, innovation, education, mobility and people-to-people ties.

Both the leaders welcomed the steady growth in bilateral trade in goods and services despite global challenges and reaffirmed their commitment to doubling bilateral trade by 2030.

They welcomed the growing presence of leading technology companies in each other's markets through expanded operations and partnerships, with the Finnish side also appreciating the contribution of Indian professionals to Finland's technology and innovation sectors.

"Both sides also welcomed the steady growth in bilateral trade in goods and services despite global challenges and reaffirmed their commitment to doubling existing bilateral trade by 2030," the statement read.

The leaders also announced India and Finland jointly hosting the World Circular Economic Forum in September 2026 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India, said the statement.

"The strategic partnership between Finland and India in the digital sector and sustainability agreed in March was a significant step in the relations between our countries. Our goal is to at least double the trade from the current level of about three billion,” said Orpo.

Finland offers India world-class expertise to support the country's dynamic development, said a press release issued by the Finnish government, quoting the Prime Minister as saying.

Modi took to X, describing the meeting as productive and aimed at giving "new energy" to bilateral ties between the two nations.

"Delighted to meet the Prime Minister of Finland, Mr. Petteri Orpo. This year has witnessed extensive engagements as far as India and Finland are concerned. PM Orpo himself had come to India for the AI Impact Summit. Our meeting today is aimed at giving new energy to bilateral relations," the post read.

"We spoke of working together in futuristic sectors like 6G, AI, education, nuclear energy and more. We also discussed how to deepen linkages in climate change, circular economy, sustainable development and more," it added.

The Indian Foreign Ministry said that Finland and India share warm and multifaceted relations rooted in shared democratic values, with Finland being an important partner for India in the European Union and the Nordic region, said the ANI report.